Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in lowland areas in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across much of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, meadows, ditches, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Introduced from the Mediterranean region

Growth Duration: Biennial, Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Generalist

Stout, short-lived, glabrous and glaucous perennial with a strong anise odor, 1-2 m. tall, the single stem branched above.

Leaves 3-ternate-pinnate, petiolate, the blades up to 4 dm. long and wide, the ultimate segments filiform, 4-40 mm. long and less than 1 mm. wide.

Inflorescence of compound umbels, the rays 10-40, unequal, 2-8 cm. long at maturity; involucre and involucel wanting; calyx teeth obsolete; flowers yellow.

Fruit oblong, sub-terete, glabrous, with prominent ribs, 3.5-4 mm. long.